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Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley, right, wraps around Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) on a drive to the basket during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Friday, April 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

BOSTON -- Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley said the bruised left collarbone he suffered late in Friday's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers had nothing to do with his previous shoulder injuries.

"It hurts, but I'll be fine," he said, adding, "It's just a little swelling."

Bradley took what looked to be an inadvertent elbow from Kyrie Irving as the All-Star drove to the hoop with fewer than four minutes left in the game. At the next dead ball, with 3:18 remaining, Bradley was subbed out and briefly visited the locker room with team trainer Ed Lacerte.

"I was concerned when he grabbed his shoulder that it was his shoulder," said head coach Doc Rivers. "Then Kyrie informed me that he shot him with an elbow, and it had nothing to do with his shoulder. So I told Kyrie, 'Thank you for the update.'"

Two minutes after the collision, Bradley emerged from the locker room. Rivers said the guard "probably could have" returned to the game at that point, but he did not get re-inserted into the lineup.

During his 28 minutes, Bradley shot just 3-12 from the field. But his defense contributed to Irving's uncharacteristic 4-20 shooting.

"He's a great defender," Irving said. "He threw a couple guys at me, and they were up so high on the pick and rolls, they forced me into tough shots... give credit to the Celtics defense."